Scenic drive: Globe-Winkelman-Superior

The drive along State Routes 77 and 177 from Globe to Winkelman to Superior takes you along the banks of the Gila River, past a number of small mountain ranges and through several historical mining towns, some long past their heyday, others still flourishing. Tailings from the mines form sprawling ziggurats of waste rock, dramatic evidence of the area's past.

Things to note along the way:

Christmas Mine: Santa has left the building. Not much remains of this once-bustling mine, which traces its history back about 130 years to when prospectors discovered rich deposits of copper. Unfortunately for them, the ore was well within the boundaries of the San Carlos Reservation. Political maneuvering ensued and, in late 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt signed a decree realigning the reservation's boundaries. George Chittendon, who had requested the boundary adjustment, forded the Gila River when he got the news and staked his claim early Christmas Day. At its peak, in the 1920s and 1930s, Christmas was home to about 1,000 people. The mine closed for good in the early 1980s, having produced about 500 million pounds of copper ore. Look for what's left of Christmas nearly 25 miles south of the junction of U.S. 60 and SR 77.

Dripping Springs Mountains: This range runs southeast to northwest, straddling the line between Gila and Pinal counties just north of the Gila River. The range was named, as you may have guessed, after a set of springs that drip from a cliff face. The springs were just off a stage road that linked Florence and Globe.

Ray Mine Overlook: For a good look at an open-pit mine, pull off at the overlook about 20 miles northwest of Winkelman on SR 177. (Or nearly 12 miles southeast of Superior, if you come from that direction.) The view is a fascinating tableau of delicately colored, multihued terraces. Gigantic trucks and other earth-moving machines look like toys as they roam the pit far below. The artificial canyon is appalling on one level, strangely beautiful on another.

Don't miss:The Shores Recreation Area. This small camping and picnic area stretches almost half a mile along the Gila, about 30 miles south of U.S. 60. Thickets of salt cedar and mesquite line the river banks, creating plenty of shady spots for a picnic. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a stay limit of 14 days. Tubing, kayaking and canoeing are permitted, but the river holds a number of dangerous snags. Also, although bear sightings are relatively rare, a teenager camping here in 2006 suffered minor injuries in a bear attack.

Total miles: About 205 miles, round trip. From central Phoenix, take U.S. 60 east about 90 miles to Globe. A couple of miles east of Globe, turn south on State Route 77 and go about 33 miles to Winkelman. Turn right onto State Route 177 and drive about 32 miles northwest. Turn west at Superior and take U.S. 60 about 66 miles back in Phoenix.